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NGO - Jesuit Service Cambodia
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Jesuit Service Cambodia
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Jesuit Service desires to help towards reconciliation, peace, justice, and the full human development of a people hurt by war, oppression and exile. Love is the motivating force of the situation, fostering self-help and self-determination, finding together creative means to alleviate poverty, in justice. In keeping with these aims, Jesuit Service has a long-term commitment to the people of Cambodia and wants to remain international in character with Cambodia members from Asia, Australia and Europe working side by side learning from each other. The Cambodia team inside Jesuit Service Cambodia, Known as Metta-Karuna Association Association, is responsible for many of the projects.
(Top)
The first Jesuit entered Cambodia in early 1600, not very long after Loyola of Spain founded the Society Service Cambodia grew out of the pioneering efforts of the Jesuit Refugee Service which began its work with Cambodia people in the refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodia border in 1980.
Entering Cambodia in 1990, the JRS established: In September 1994 its official name became Jesuit Service Cambodia, and in 2003 it has offices and projects in Siem Reap. Banteay Meanchey, Battambang as well as in Phnom Penh and Kandal. (Top) PERSONNEL:
Total personnel: 147 (Expatriate personnel: 122)(Top)
Jesuit Refugee Service in Cambodia provides legal and social assistance for refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Iran, Vietnam, and parts of Africa. UNHCR refers asylum seekers to JRS's lawyer for initial claims and appeals for refugee status. Social workers assist refugees with renting houses, marketing, educational opportunities, health and general orientation to life in Cambodia. Nearly all remain in urban Phnom Penh, most desiring resettlement to a third country. Many become depressed as they reluctantly grasp that local integration may become their only durable solution. To date, documents allowing employment to refugees are not available, travel documents are difficult to obtain and refugees do not want to choose education in Cambodian schools. However on the whole, the urban refugees in Cambodia have been allowed to rebuild their lives peacefully in Phnom Penh, in contrast with other Southeast Asian countries known for their harsh treatment of illegal immigrants.
 When it signed the Refugee Convention ten years ago, Cambodia was at the forefront in Asia in safeguarding and protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. However, the enormous task of nation building and providing for the basic needs of its impoverished population have made maintaining its international obligations less of a priority and the year 2002 was marked by some unfortunate incidents of failure to protected refugees. A dissident Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Vulnerable Thich Tri Luc, disappeared while in Phnom Penh and is feared to have been forcibly taken back to Vietnam. A few weeks later, two Chinese Falun Gong practitioners were arrested and deported to China, where they are now detained. All three persons were under the protection of the UNHCR.
Resettlement of refugees to third countries has become more difficult, but the United States and Norway still surprisingly accepted some refugees from Cambodia. One Afghan refugee family was the lucky winner of the US diversity visa lottery. The largest case was that of the Vietnamese Montagnards from the Central Highlands, a highly contentious issue that engaged Cambodia, Vietnam and UNHCR for over a year, until the United States intervened and offered resettlement to the 905 refugees in the UNHCR camps in Mondol Kiri and Rottanak Kiri. More than half of the group has since left for the USA but the resettlement of the remainder goes slowly. Reports of Montagnards being forcibly returned to Vietnam are frequent. The asylum Cambodia grants to refugees needs to be made meaningful by issuing work permits. Local legislation needs to be passed to implement the provisions of the Refugee Convention in order that Cambodia can be a durable place for refugees, and that asylum seekers right to seek refugee may be protected. JRS Cambodia is linked to JRS Rome and JRS Asia Pacific in advocacy and information dissemination. (Top)  Work group of JS Cambodia
The team at Jesuit Service Cambodia is truly global, with our Jesuits, Mercy and Providence Sisters, lay missionaries and volunteers emanating from all over the world. Our community is made up of members from Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Belgium, India, Luxembourg and Ireland.
We currently have 120 Cambodian and 22 expatriate staff working in our projects across Cambodia including Phnom Penh, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap and Battambang. (Top)
At Jesuit Service Cambodia, our aim is to help work towards reconciliation, peace, justice and the full human development of people hurt by war, oppression and exile. We do this by offering a broad range of social, development, pastoral, spiritual, educational and formation programs across Cambodia.
Our mission at Jesuit Service Cambodia is to:
With a population of over 13 million people, Cambodia is a country fraught with poverty and still bearing the scars of genocide, war and an aid embargo. Landmines are commonplace and continue to take the lives and limbs of Cambodians. The country's education and health services are poor, the legal and justice system fragile and the vulnerable continue to need help. There is much work to be done in Cambodia.
At Jesuit Service Cambodia, we aim to serve people in need. Our work, in Cambodia, covers a broad-range of projects including:
The education system in Cambodia is facing many challenges today, largely due to number of young people wanting access to modern education.
Our work in this area has been primarily focused on assisting the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) evolve into a National University, where moral values of integrity and service, are at the heart of its core. Through the program, we provide English language training to both university staff and students as well as assist the teachers and their faculties upgrade their theory and practical skills. Our University team lives and manages a hostel for over 50 students. At the hostel, the team encourages the students to develop analytical thinking skills and helps with the student's character development. (Catholic Church Student Center) Another service offered to the students is the opportunity to participate in reflection groups. These groups give the students a chance to reflect on their lives, and the questions facing their society today. (Top) If you would like to reach us, you can contact us in the following ways: ...last updated 19/02/2007 |
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